Mayawati removes top cops in Noida murder probe(Lead)

Lucknow, June 1 (IANS) With the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking up the probe into the murders of Noida teenager Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Sunday gave marching orders to all senior police officers connected with the investigations so far. Mayawati announced the transfer of Inspector General (IG) Gurdarshan Singh, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P.C. Meena of Meerut Range, and Senior Superintendent of Police of Noida A.S. Ganesh.

“I decided to shift them simply because I do not want anyone to accuse them of attempting to influence the CBI probe,” she told reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference at her official residence here.

“I have nothing against these officers who have done a good job by unearthing valuable evidence in the case. I was quite satisfied with their findings, but since the grieved family expressed their desire for a CBI probe, and they were dissatisfied with the state police investigations, I have decided to concede their wish,” the chief minister said.

The chief minister has named R.K. Chaturvedi as the new Noida police chief, R.P. Rama Sastri as the new Meerut DIG and Gyan Singh as zonal IG.

Fourteen-old Aarushi was found murdered with her throat slit May 15 and a day later domestic help Hemraj, who initially was suspected of killing the girl, also was found dead.

The girl’s father, dentist Rajesh Talwar, has been arrested as the prime suspect in the double murder. The CBI was entrusted the case after the Noida Police were accused of shoddy investigations.

Meerut IG Gurdarshan Singh had pointedly charged Talwar of killing Aarushi in a fit of rage after he found her with Hemraj in an “objectionable” position.

He had added that just before killing his daughter, Talwar had taken Hemraj to the terrace and killed him. Noida cops had also sought his narco-analysis test, since his sustained interrogation have proved to be futile in eliciting any information.

Nupur Talwar, Aarushi’s mother, has also claimed that her husband is innocent and that the Noida police have framed him.